Introduction
According to a recent announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the investigation they launched against the E.Coli outbreak associated with McDonald’s Quarter Pounders burgers has been declared over. The McDonald’s E. coli outbreak sickened over 100 people in 14 states. Among them, one person died in Colorado and another 34 were hospitalized. The food safety investigation indicates that the possible cause of the contamination was the thin strips of fresh onions in McDonald’s most famous Quarter Pounder.
Latest Developments
According to the report, the fast food giant recalled the affected onions on October 22, and there have been no new cases of E.Coli seen since then.
Investigators believe yellow onions are the main reason behind this McDonald’s E. coli outbreak, based on interviews of the affected persons. It shows that nearly 84% of the people had slivered onions on their menu.
FDA checked a sample supplied by Taylor Farms, a Colorado-based vegetable and fruit grower, and another from an onion grower in Washington State. Both tested positive for E.coli but contained a different strain from those being diagnosed in patients. Therefore, due to mixed evidence, the result bears suspicion about the onions that were behind the outbreak.
After a careful investigation of all collected samples, health officials have now declared “no safety concerns” for the outbreak. Furthermore, since the onion recall, McDonald’s has halted the purchases from Taylor Farms. In a recent statement, their representative has assured its customers as well as the food authorities of “no compromise on the quality”.
Resuming the most renowned Quarter pounder, McDonald’s is now using slivered onions from a different grower and supplier. A further good news, their signature burger is now available to buy across all 850+ branches.
History
Initially surfaced in October 2024, the E. coli outbreak affected over 100 people in various states. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and FDA linked the outbreak to yellow onions provided by Taylor Farms. According to the interviews of sickened people, nearly 99% of the patients became ill after eating food from McDonald’s, while 84% of them had consumed slivered onions.
Being one of its consumers, McDonald’s became a contributor to E. coli’s outbreak with the highest number of cases, counting 16 in Montana and 30 in Colorado. While Taylor Farms recalled its supply, Mcdonald’s also stopped using the slivered onion.
In the turn of events, the FDA instructed restaurants, including McDonald’s not to use suspected onions to stop the outbreak. They also put forth an order to discard the frozen stocks, if any. Fortunately, the authority confirmed that it has not received any report of selling these contaminated onions directly to grocery stores and consumers.
What is E.coli?
E.coli is a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system, urinary tract, and other parts of the body. It causes severe stomach cramps and diarrhea in minor cases. In complicated cases, it can result in fatal conditions, such as kidney failure. People usually suffer from E. Coli due to unhealthy consumption. These include consuming contaminated substances like food, water, and unpasteurized beverages (milk, juice, etc.). E.coli can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces, as a secondary instance. Visit Benefits by State for more insights.
